RESIDENTS and businesses in Harlow are being invited to find out more about crime and community safety in the district at a public meeting being held by Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Jane Gardner. Attendees will also have the opportunity to put their questions and concerns to a panel of experts.

The meeting will take place at the Latton Bush Centre, Southern Way, Harlow, CM187BL from 7pm to 8pm on Tuesday 21st June 2022. Jane will be joined on the panel by District Commander Ch/Insp Paul Ballard, Essex Police, North-West Manager Terry Povey ECFRS and Cllr Joel Charles, Harlow Council.

Jane said: “Being able to hear directly from local communities about any concerns they have or issues they are experiencing helps us understand what more we can do to make people feel safer.”

“Our public meetings are also a great way to brief residents on how we are working together with a range of partners to deliver the priorities laid out in the Police and Crime Plan and the Fire and Rescue Plan. Funding for more police officers, helping those suffering from domestic abuse, protecting vulnerable people and tackling gangs and serious violence are a few examples of how we are making this happen. Attendees can also hear from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service on the excellent prevention work they are doing in Harlow to reduce the risk of harm.”

Attendees can learn more about local initiatives such as the ongoing work by Harlow Town Centre Team and the Community Safety Team from Harlow Council, where they conduct patrols within the Town Centre and identify hot spots for drug dealing and anti-social behaviour. Over the past year they have made numerous arrests and secured convictions for persons involved in drugs possession and supply.

The teams have also been working together to support homeless people in the town, by helping to find them accommodation for the night, supporting applications for their own living space and helping them into employment so they can gain their place back in the community.

Meanwhile Op Perform is an initiative by Essex Police that takes place over the summer months and where they conduct high visibility patrols on cycle paths and underpasses to combat anti-social behaviour and violent offenders.

To find out more about the work being done to keep our communities safe head over to @PFCCEssex on Facebook for more information and visit www.essex.pfcc.police.uk for details of the Police and Crime Plan and Fire and Rescue Plan.

Go to https://www.essex.pfcc.police.uk/events/ for the full schedule of PFCC events.